Hira supporters protest attack

PREETAM BRAHMA CHOUDHURY

Supporters of Naba Sarania take out a rally at Mushalpur on Friday. Picture by UB Photos

Kokrajhar, April 18: Hundreds supporters of pro-Ulfa leader Hira Sarania or Naba Kumar Sarania, who is consensus candidate of the Jonogosthiyo Oikyo Moncho from Kokrajhar constituency, today staged a protest at Mushalpur in Baksa district demanding immediate arrest of those involved in the attack on the election office of Sarania at Sathesanka in the district last evening.

The protesters marched to the Baksa deputy commissionerís office from Mushalpur main chowk.

A memorandum was submitted to chief election commissioner through the district returning officer demanding action against and arrest of the culprits involved in the incident.

According to sources, motorcycle-borne youths stopped in front of the Saraniaís election camp and fired indiscriminately before fleeing from the spot. No one was injured though a vehicle and a bike were partially damaged.

The attack took place hours after Ulfa urged the people not to vote for the Independent candidate accusing him of insulting the three-decade struggle of the outfit.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Paresh Barua faction urged the people not to vote for their former colleague.

The pro-talks faction has already expelled him.

Sporadic incidents of pre-poll violence were reported from several parts of Baksa and in some areas of Chirang under Kokrajhar constituency since the past few weeks, forcing the Election Commission to transfer Baksa deputy commissioner Anupam Kumar Roy and superintendent of police Gautam Bora.

Vinod Seshan has been appointed the new deputy commissioner and Nimbalkar V. Chandrakant as the superintendent of police, Assamís additional chief electoral officer R.C. Jain said.